Ruby Pickens Tartt Public Library
🏢 Alabama Public Library Service · Livingston, Alabama
Ruby Pickens Tartt Public Library
Named for the remarkable folklorist who documented the songs and stories of formerly enslaved people across Sumter County, Ruby Pickens Tartt Public Library stands in Livingston as a living tribute to a woman born here in 1880 whose 800-plus WPA recordings preserved a priceless piece of American cultural memory.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 206 MONROE ST., LIVINGSTON, AL 35470
Phone: +1 205-652-2349
Website: apls.state.al.us
Plus Code: 864HHRM7+4H (LIVINGSTON, AL)
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📖 About Ruby Pickens Tartt Public Library
Ruby Pickens Tartt (1880–1974) was a Livingston-born folklorist, writer, and painter who partnered with ethnomusicologist John Lomax beginning in 1936 to record more than 800 songs, life histories, and stories from Black residents of Sumter County under the Works Progress Administration. Her short story appeared in a prestigious 1945 anthology, and she provided source material for Carl Carmer's celebrated book Stars Fell on Alabama. In 1975, one year after her death, Livingston honored her by naming this public library in her memory. Today some 5,000 of her folkloric manuscripts are held at the nearby Julia Tutwiler Library at the University of West Alabama, making Livingston a genuine destination for researchers of Southern folk culture and Black Belt history. The library serves Sumter County residents at 206 Monroe Street and is connected to the Alabama Public Library Service statewide network, giving every cardholder access to the Alabama Virtual Library, downloadable eBooks, and Homework Alabama live tutoring.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named in 1975 for Ruby Pickens Tartt (1880–1974) — WPA folklorist who recorded 800+ songs and stories from Sumter County
- Livingston is home to the University of West Alabama, which holds 5,000+ Tartt manuscripts
- Part of the APLS statewide network — borrow from libraries across Alabama
- Free access to Alabama Virtual Library databases, Homework Alabama, and downloadable eBooks
- Genealogy and local history resources for Sumter County and Black Belt research
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your free library card connects you to a statewide digital collection:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Sumter County residents
- Print book and media lending
- Genealogy and local history reference assistance
- Public computer access
- Interlibrary loan through APLS network
🎸 Programs
- Children's reading programs
- Community events and special programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Sumter County & West Alabama
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in LIVINGSTON · Browse all Alabama libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ruby Pickens Tartt, and why is the library named for her?
Ruby Pickens Tartt (1880–1974) was born and raised in Livingston. Starting in 1936, she collaborated with ethnomusicologist John Lomax under the Works Progress Administration to record over 800 songs, stories, and life histories from Black residents of Sumter County — one of the most important oral history collections from the American South. The library was named in her honor in 1975, a year after her death. She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1980.
Where are the Ruby Pickens Tartt manuscripts preserved?
Some 5,000 of Tartt's folkloric manuscripts are housed at the Julia Tutwiler Library at the University of West Alabama, located about a mile from the public library on US Highway 11 in Livingston. Researchers can contact UWA's archives directly for access to these materials.
What digital resources are available to library cardholders in Livingston?
All cardholders get free access to the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) — including EBSCO research databases, academic journals, and reference tools. Through the APLS statewide network, you can also access Homework Alabama for K–12 tutoring and borrow from public libraries across the state.
Is there another public library nearby in Sumter County?
Yes — the Hightower Memorial Library is located in York, about 13 miles west on US Highway 11. Both libraries serve Sumter County residents and are part of the APLS statewide network.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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